| More than five years ago, the Center for | | | | type of children who are expected to |
| Disease Control (CDC) published Guidelines | | | | participate. |
| for School and Community Programs to promote | | | | |
| physical activity in children and teenagers, | | | | Health education classes should help students |
| in hopes of helping them develop lifelong | | | | develop knowledge and skills to encourage and |
| exercise and physical fitness regimens. | | | | enhance proper diet and exercise programs. |
| | | | These programs should foster an appropriate |
| If you, as a parent, understand and embrace | | | | attitude so that all children WANT to live a |
| these guidelines, you can work with your | | | | healthy life style. |
| school system and with community centers and | | | | |
| programs, like the YMCA and the Boy Scouts, | | | | Programs should stress moderation in all |
| to encourage and even help to develop | | | | activities so that children see exercise as |
| physical activity and exercise programs that | | | | one of the things they will do every day, in |
| support your goals. | | | | addition to the other activities they love, |
| | | | e.g. computer or video games, or watching TV |
| If your child is obese, slightly overweight | | | | or movies. |
| or simply in danger of falling into the | | | | |
| great, black pit of video gaming, you need to | | | | All coaches, teachers, health education |
| get them off the couch, out from in front of | | | | staff, and recreation directors should have |
| the computer or video game station, and out | | | | appropriate training to manage and promote |
| into the fresh air to get some exercise. | | | | this physical education and exercise programs |
| | | | and to ensure that the children under their |
| Without exercise, diet is much less | | | | supervision safely participate in these |
| successful. | | | | programs. |
| | | | |
| Although your child may balk at physical | | | | Safe, supervised access to facilities and |
| activities at first, they will eventually | | | | equipment is critical! |
| find that they feel better, sleep better and | | | | |
| function better when they exercise. | | | | Unstructured play time is important during |
| | | | school and after school, with tools and |
| Take a look at some of the CDC guidelines and | | | | equipment to encourage impromptu games, e.g. |
| look for ways to get your child more involved | | | | balls, bats, jump ropes, gymnastics |
| in exercise, and/or to get YOURSELF more | | | | equipment. |
| involved in the development of these programs | | | | |
| in your schools and community. | | | | Parents and teachers should come together to |
| | | | discuss the availability of school and |
| The CDC encourages schools and community | | | | community exercise and physical education |
| organizations alike to establish policies and | | | | programs. |
| guidelines that encourage physical activity | | | | |
| that is enjoyable and that is suitable for | | | | Parents should be encouraged to take on |
| all age groups, so that exercise becomes a | | | | exercise and physical activities and to share |
| lifelong activity. | | | | these with their children as appropriate; to |
| | | | become role models for their kids by |
| Schools MUST require physical education | | | | exercising and participating in physical |
| credits and provide detailed health education | | | | activities during family events, at work |
| and courses to teach children proper | | | | functions, while visiting the park, etc. |
| nutritional habits and to show them the right | | | | |
| way to exercise so that they are not injured | | | | All school and community programs should be |
| in the process. | | | | evaluated periodically. |
| | | | |
| Schools will find and implement physical | | | | This evaluation should be detailed enough to |
| education and exercise programs that | | | | ensure that the needs of the children in the |
| encourage physical activity and offer | | | | community are being met. |
| enjoyable options. Activities like dance, | | | | |
| gymnastics, sports and other options should | | | | Does each child have more than one option and |
| be offered with supervised coaching to avoid | | | | opportunity for exercise and health education |
| injury. Not all activities should be | | | | in multiple venues and facilities? |
| competitive! | | | | |
| | | | Now that you understand the CDC |
| Activities should be sequential, advancing in | | | | recommendations, take a look at your own |
| complexity and challenge as the child ages to | | | | school system and at the extracurricular, and |
| allow them to achieve physical potential. | | | | community availability of physical |
| | | | activities, sports and exercise options. |
| At minimum, National Physical Fitness | | | | |
| standards should be met. | | | | If your community is lagging behind in these |
| | | | programs, get actively involved. Your |
| Both schools and community organizations must | | | | attendance and presentation at a town board |
| provide funding and adequate supervision and | | | | meeting can get organizations like the Boys |
| guidance for physical activities, sports, and | | | | and Girls Club, and the YMCA into your |
| exercise equipment. | | | | community. |
| | | | |
| These activities and equipment choices must | | | | And you can talk to your school board and PTA |
| provide a broad range of options to satisfy | | | | or PTO about the shortcomings in your |
| the interests of all the children in the | | | | physical education and health programs, and |
| community, and school system. | | | | how your school system may be able to improve |
| | | | their current programs. |
| Community and school programs should include | | | | |
| activities that are appropriate for children | | | | You will find it much easier to help your |
| of all ages and all levels of ability. | | | | child meet their weight loss or fitness goals |
| | | | when you have community and school system |
| These programs should be advertised and | | | | support. |
| promoted to children to advise them of the | | | | |
| availability and the programs should be | | | | For your overweight, obese or inactive child, |
| desirable and enjoyable for the age group and | | | | this support and assistance is priceless! |